In this section:

Physical Education
Interscholastic Sports

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Physical Education is a character-shaping program focused on developing a positive attitude about oneself and providing physically, emotionally, and intellectually challenging experiences. The program encourages students to discover active pursuits that are fun and stimulating enough to become regular parts of their lives. Students are asked to set and achieve realistic goals and are challenged to improve performance. Often the best route to these goals is with the cooperation and assistance of classmates.

The total program involves more than physical activity. Each student must raise his or her fitness level and understand its relationship to lifetime physical and mental wellness. Some will choose to participate in interscholastic sports. Others will choose to fulfill their requirement through physical education classes.

All tenth graders and other students new to the upper school will be tested for overall fitness with attention to individual areas of weakness. Students who show a specific weakness or cannot pass the test will be placed in fitness classes designed to bring the student to an acceptable level. The test is scored according to a point system based on national and school norms. Our goal is to identify students in the lower percentiles and offer prescriptions for improvement. Students in any grade will be directed to fitness options until they are able to pass the test.

Physical Education Classes

Students must complete five trimester units of physical education in the upper school. Many students take more physical education units than are required. Activity classes generally meet three days per week.

The following activity electives are open to students in all grades. Students may take the same activity as often as they would like. The classes represent a variety of lifetime sports and fitness activities and are taught by the physical education staff.

In addition to the activity electives listed, classes in dance are available and satisfy the Physical Education requirement. Dance classes at the upper school also satisfy the Fine Arts requirement. Please refer to the Dance portion of the Performing Arts section to sign up for dance classes.

Students develop a fitness program under the direction of the physical education staff. The course includes weight training and/or cardiovascular exercise.

Students participate in a variety of activities each trimester appropriate to the size of the group. Possible activities include badminton, basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, team handball, kickball, ultimate Frisbee, softball, or any others deemed appropriate.

Fencing I is a beginning class that explores the sport of modern fencing. Included are mobility, attack, defense, tactics, and technique. The course primarily studies foil, though saber and épée are also explored.

This class provides an introduction to ju-jitsu. Students are taught the fundamentals of this martial art as it is used for both self-defense and sport applications. Drills are designed to improve balance, focus, and confidence. Emphasis is placed on learning about the culture and etiquette of the sport. Special practice clothing is required. Classes meet in the fencing room.

The focus of this class is on learning and training with proper swimming technique. The class meets mornings prior to school.

This class provides an introduction to the basic philosophy of yoga, as described by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation as taught in the Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga traditions are emphasized. Students learn these practices in the context of a larger mind/body discipline through which they can acquire greater self-perception and understanding. Students work toward an independent daily practice of yoga and keep a journal to note their experiences and progress. This class is open to students of all levels.

Hatha Yoga II continues the study of yoga asanas (postures) introduced in Hatha Yoga I. Increased emphasis is placed on the practice of pranayama (breath control) and meditation. Students experiment with more advanced postures, including inversions and arm-balancing poses, which require greater strength, balance, and concentration.

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INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

Harvard-Westlake Athletic Philosophy

We believe that participation, play, and the joy of physical activity should be at the heart of our athletic program.

We will teach habits of body and mind that contribute to a healthy and happy life.

We will encourage our student–athletes to challenge themselves through honest competition and to learn lifelong lessons of responsibility, commitment, and initiative.

We will practice and teach teamwork and sportsmanship.

We will respect our student–athletes and their commitments beyond athletics.

We expect all members of our community to respect the athletes and support the officials who join us in competition.

We recognize that our athletic program is an integral part of the Harvard‑Westlake community and complements the academic mission that is central to the life of our school.

Interscholastic Sports require a serious commitment of time and energy. Students must train and prepare for the season, learn how their bodies respond to the specific demands of their sports, and manage their time effectively to meet academic and other obligations. Students interested in participating on a Harvard‑Westlake team should contact the team’s coaches before the season to gain a full understanding of the commitment required. In the off-season, athletes may take a physical education class, but will more likely participate in a training class. By combining a sport and training class, a student can meet the physical education requirement without taking physical education activity classes.

In season and during the school year, practice time (including warm-up, weight training, and field maintenance) shall not exceed two and a half hours on weekdays and three hours on Saturdays. Teams will not practice on game days. The sports council may extend practice time upon request of the appropriate athletic director if such extension is necessitated by facility limitations.

Please be advised that winter and spring athletes will be expected to attend practices and games during vacations that fall in their seasons.

Training classes are offered for athletes out of season in their particular sport or sports. When possible, the coach of the team will teach this training class during ninth period throughout the off-season. Students must get the coach’s written approval to sign up for the training class.

Tenth graders and new students intending to be on a team that makes cuts should sign up for a physical education class until they officially make the team.

Fall

8535-3 Basketball Training Class—Girls
8501-3 Cross Country—JV Girls
8500-3 Cross Country—Varsity Girls
8611-3 Field Hockey—JV Girls
8610-3 Field Hockey—Varsity Girls
8620-3 Golf—Varsity Girls
8555-3 Soccer Training Class—Girls
8575-3 Softball Training Class—Girls
8585-3 Swimming Training Class—Girls
8511-3 Tennis—JV Girls
8510-3 Tennis—Varsity Girls
8521-3 Volleyball—JV Girls
8520-3 Volleyball—Varsity Girls
8545-3 Water Polo Training Class—Girls

8765-3 Baseball Training Class—Boys
8735-3 Basketball Training Class—Boys
8711-3 Cross Country—JV Boys
8710-3 Cross Country—Varsity Boys
8701-3 Football—JV
8700-3 Football—Varsity
8745-3 Soccer Training Class—Boys
8723-3 Water Polo—Frosh/Soph Boys
8721-3 Water Polo—JV Boys
8720-3 Water Polo—Varsity Boys
8755-3 Wrestling Training Class

8930-3 Cheerleading
8920-3 Equestrian
8902-3 Fencing
8910-3 Ju-Jitsu

Winter

8531-4 Basketball—JV Girls
8530-4 Basketball—Varsity Girls
8551-4 Soccer—JV Girls
8550-4 Soccer—Varsity Girls
8575-4 Softball Training Class—Girls
8585-4 Swimming Training Class—Girls
8605-4 Track and Field Training Class—Girls
8541-4 Water Polo—JV Girls
8540-4 Water Polo—Varsity Girls

8765-4 Baseball Training Class—Boys
8731-4 Basketball—JV Boys
8730-4 Basketball—Varsity Boys
8705-4 Football Training Class
8775-4 Golf Training Class—Boys
8825-4 Lacrosse Training Class
8743-4 Soccer—Frosh/Soph Boys
8741-4 Soccer—JV Boys
8740-4 Soccer—Varsity Boys
8785-4 Swimming Training Class—Boys
8795-4 Tennis Training Class—Boys
8805-4 Track and Field Training Class—Boys
8815-4 Volleyball Training Class—Boys
8751-4 Wrestling—JV
8750-4 Wrestling—Varsity

8930-4 Cheerleading
8920-4 Equestrian
8902-4 Fencing
8910-4 Ju-Jitsu
8975-4 Springboard Diving Training Class

Spring

8535-5 Basketball Training Class—Girls
8615-5 Field Hockey Training Class—Girls
8555-5 Soccer Training Class—Girls
8571-5 Softball—JV Girls
8570-5 Softball—Varsity Girls
8581-5 Swimming and Diving—JV Girls
8580-5 Swimming and Diving—Varsity Girls
8601-5 Track and Field—JV Girls
8600-5 Track and Field—Varsity Girls
8525-5 Volleyball Training Class—Girls

8761-5 Baseball—JV Boys
8760-5 Baseball—Varsity Boys
8735-5 Basketball Training Class—Boys
8705-5 Football Training Class
8771-5 Golf—JV Boys
8770-5 Golf—Varsity Boys
8821-5 Lacrosse—JV
8820-5 Lacrosse—Varsity
8745-5 Soccer Training Class—Boys
8781-5 Swimming and Diving—JV Boys
8780-5 Swimming and Diving—Varsity Boys
8791-5 Tennis—JV Boys
8790-5 Tennis—Varsity Boys
8803-5 Track and Field—Frosh/Soph Boys
8801-5 Track and Field—JV Boys
8800-5 Track and Field—Varsity Boys
8811-5 Volleyball—JV Boys
8810-5 Volleyball—Varsity Boys
8725-5 Water Polo Training Class—Boys
8755-5 Wrestling Training Class—Boys

8930-5 Cheerleading
8920-5 Equestrian
8902-5 Fencing
8910-5 Ju-Jitsu

STUDENT ASSISTANT PROGRAM

This program is designed to offer Physical Education credit to students who perform a variety of services for the athletic program. Services may include: technical assistance, such as filming and/or breaking down film of practices or games; statistical evaluation of games and practices and providing information to media sources; or teaching assistance in the weight room, such as monitoring student use. These or other services may earn a student credit if the commitment is a minimum of eight hours per week. Many students will find that the time commitment is more substantial. An agreement to be a Student Assistant must be reached between the prospective student and the coach before the start of the season or trimester. Students receive one trimester of Physical Education credit for this program.

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(from the 2008-2009 Curriculum Guide)